Six-Time Grand Slam Champion Joe Salisbury Announces Retirement From Professional Tennis

Former world number one doubles player Joe Salisbury has officially announced his retirement from professional tennis, drawing to a close one of the most successful and decorated careers in modern British tennis history. The six-time Grand Slam champion steps away from the court having reached the pinnacle of the global game, leaving behind a remarkable legacy of major tournament victories and historic records.

The 34-year-old Briton selected this month’s US Open at Flushing Meadows as the final tournament of his professional playing career. In a fitting conclusion to their years of dominance, Salisbury teamed up once more with his longtime American partner Rajeev Ram. The pair mounted one last deep run together, navigating through the draw to reach the men's doubles semi-finals before bidding their final farewells, as Ram has also decided to retire from the sport.

New York served as a particularly meaningful setting for Salisbury's final competitive appearance. It was at the US Open where Salisbury and Ram achieved a historic milestone in 2023, becoming the first men's doubles team in the entire history of the sport to win three consecutive US Open titles. Their unmatched run in New York cemented their status as one of the most formidable partnerships of the modern era.

With six major championships to his name, Salisbury walks away as Great Britain's most successful men's doubles player of the Open Era. His achievements on the ATP Tour and at the Grand Slams established him as a premier doubles specialist, consistently competing at the highest tier of international tennis and ascending to the world number one ranking.

Salisbury’s Grand Slam journey featured memorable triumphs in both men's doubles and mixed doubles. Alongside Ram, he claimed his first major men's doubles title at the 2020 Australian Open, a victory that laid the foundation for their sustained supremacy at the top level and preceded their record-setting three-peat in New York.

Beyond his men's doubles achievements with Ram, Salisbury also enjoyed substantial triumph on the mixed doubles stage. Partnering with American player Desirae Krawczyk, Salisbury captured two Grand Slam mixed doubles titles, demonstrating his exceptional versatility, sharp net skills, and tactical awareness across different doubles disciplines.

Across his full professional career, Salisbury collected a total of 17 tour-level titles. His impressive resume was further highlighted by back-to-back victories at the prestigious, season-ending ATP Finals in 2022 and 2023, where he and Ram defeated the world's eight best doubles pairings to finish their respective seasons as champions.

Reflecting on his decision to step away from the sport at the age of 34, Salisbury revealed that he had been considering his long-term future for a considerable amount of time. After extensive contemplation regarding his life both on and off the court, the British player confirmed that he is now very happy with the choice to retire.

In an emotional statement published on his official Instagram account, Salisbury expressed his deep appreciation for everything the sport provided him. He wrote that tennis had been his life for as long as he could remember, adding that he felt incredibly fortunate to have enjoyed all the opportunities, rich experiences, and immense success that came his way throughout his career.

Salisbury elaborated on the joy of turning his childhood passion into a world-spanning vocation. He stated that being able to travel around the world and call playing tennis his job was a dream come true, acknowledging that he never believed he could have lived such a life or achieved the career heights that he did. He emphasized that he gave everything he had to the sport, allowing him to look back on his playing days with great pride and without any regrets.

The announcement comes after a challenging period earlier in the year when Salisbury opted to take a three-month hiatus from the ATP Tour. The break followed an open conversation with BBC Sport in which the British champion spoke candidly about the significant mental health struggles and anxiety that had begun affecting him while competing on the global circuit.

Salisbury explained at the time that while he did not believe the anxiety drastically impaired his on-court shot execution or match performance, the condition left him wrestling with a constant "feeling of dread." This persistent mental strain took a heavy emotional toll, making the demanding reality of life on the road and constant international travel far less enjoyable.

After taking time away to reset, Salisbury returned to close out his journey on his own terms, choosing to finish his career alongside Ram in the high-stakes environment of a Grand Slam semi-final. The conclusion of their shared journey at the US Open brings an end to an era defined by mutual trust, elite consistency, and numerous championship trophies.

As Salisbury now transitions into the next chapter of his life, British tennis bids farewell to one of its all-time greats. With a legacy defined by 17 tour titles, historic Grand Slam records, and world number one status, Salisbury's impact on the sport will remain a benchmark of doubles excellence for years to come.